Published on 12, July, 2020
My Beautiful Daughter was diagnosed with Autism 2 years ago when she was 15yrs old. We had been through the worse time with her as she had a complete breakdown! she was suicidal and had complete school refusal, this all lasted for a couple of years and to cut a very long and painful story short she was eventually diagnosed privately with Autism which made alot of things fall into place and was the start for her to understand herself and accept herself for how she is.
One of the hardest parts of all this is is how certain members of my family have reacted towards the diagnosis. I have been accused of putting a label on her! by getting her diagnosed that I am to overprotective of her and I need to let her grow up and figure this all out for herself. I have explained if I did this she would be dead! as that was how she was feeling and yet they still don't get it!! I have tried to educate my family on how Autism presents in girls and how it has a massive impact on a persons life! but they just don't understand they think I'm overreacting. My nephew refuses to thinks his cousin has autism and has said the diagnosis is wrong! My Mum and Sister also think she will grow out of it.
My Daughter is turning 18 in Nov and I have arranged a meal in Brighton for her, My brother in law asked if she would be going out drinking clubbing afterwards! now she is 18 I explained that she wouldn't be able to deal with all the noise and people in a busy nightclub so she was more than happy to have a family meal and mayb a cocktail to see in her birthday! He then said she should go out and enjoy herself and he can get her Autism out of her! as he is good with young people and on there level. WOW I could not believe what he said I was shocked that he thinks like this and it goes to show what he thinks autism is. Arhh I find it so frustrating and I'm trying hard to not let it get me down to much but it really does.
Have you had to deal with family members who don't understand or support you? How do you deal with them? is it easier to just stay away from them as there lack of support is unwanted in an already hard situation.
So sorry to hear your family are not supportive. I can only sympathise as luckily my family are supportive. My daughter is 18 next week, had lots of similar issues throughout the last few years and on the waiting list for a diagnosis Her younger sister and I now have a diagnosis. It is not your fault that they are ignorant about autism in general but more particular autism in females. I can only suggest finding a support network who do support you who you can connect with for support, suggest to your family they do their own research around the subject to educate themselves. There are a number of female celebrities who have been open about their diagnosis you could tell them about. I really hope they come round to accepting her for who she is. As long as she is happy that is the main thing to focus on.
Thankyou the main thing i try and focus on now is my daughter's happiness and hopfully they will come round and take the time to learn about it. Sorry to hear you have gone through a similar experience with your daughter. It must of helped her lots to have you and your other daughter to understand her. Xx